Health & Well-Being

Think you know what’s best for your health? Check out this list of random health questions posed to our friend Dr. Mehmet Oz. Some of his answers may surprise you:

• If you could choose only THREE foods to have on a desert island, what would they be? First, Dr. Oz says he’d choose walnuts, because they’re loaded with protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which you’ll need to stay mentally sharp and alive. He’d also choose broccoli, because it contains compounds which help the liver detoxify itself. The third thing Dr. Oz would choose to have on a desert island is beer! Why? His thinking is that you’ll need clean water to stay alive, and the antibacterial activity of yeast in beer helps guarantee you won’t be drinking any nasty germs.
• What’s better to put on a cut, peroxide or alcohol? Actually, neither one, because they both dry the skin, and kill the cells needed to speed healing. Instead, Dr. Oz recommends this rule of thumb: Never put anything on a cut that you wouldn’t put in your eye! In other words, clean cuts with plain water or sterile saline, and then cover them with a bandage.
• What’s worse, boredom or stress? Believe it or not, the answer’s boredom. Even though chronic stress has been linked to a higher risk for heart disease, Dr. Oz says stress in small doses can actually be good for you. There’s no amount of boredom that’s ever good for you, because boredom is usually a sign that you don’t have a purpose in life. Without purpose, you’ll have no reason to stay alive.
• Is medical marijuana a good idea? Today, it’s legal in 14 states, even though recent studies have linked a pot habit to an increased risk for depression and heart disease! However, Dr. Oz says he’s in favor of legalizing medical marijuana for all people who have terminal cancer. Why? As he puts it: “It’s hard to say no to someone who’s dying of cancer.” His thinking is that if marijuana helps stimulate your appetite, reduce your nausea from chemo, and makes you feel better, then he supports it.